Superstars Who Deserve Lengthy Run in WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Battle Royal

WWE's recent history in the annual Royal Rumble match has favored familiar faces emerging through the pack. That has to change this Sunday.

As the company prepares to unleash not one, but two Rumble matches for the first time in its history, there are plenty of contenders to not only win each match but have momentum-building runs in the match.

Whether it will set them up for a solid run on the road to WrestleMania is always unclear, but a 30-minute stint in the Rumble can always have a positive impact on a Superstar and their long-term future.

With both the men's and the women's matches in consideration, here are the stars who deserve lengthy runs at this weekend's Royal Rumble.

Becky Lynch

The first women's Royal Rumble provides many of the company's female stars with an opportunity to write their names into WWE history.

And high up on that list should be Becky Lynch.

WWE's straight-fire Lass Kicker may not necessarily need to win the match to make a statement, either. Along with the winner of the Rumble each year, the participant who lasts the longest also comes out of the bout with significant credit.

That role could easily be reserved for Lynch. Few stars, if any, deserve it more. She's consistently one of the hardest-working members of the female roster, and this would be the ideal opportunity for fans to identify with Lynch as a never-say-die underdog.

If played out correctly, it could be one of the smartest pieces of booking of the entire night.

Rusev

WWE's failure to properly build on Rusev's overwhelming momentum is the first big mistake of 2018.

Thankfully, though, the company has a chance to put that right this Sunday in the Royal Rumble match.

Does The Bulgarian Brute stand a realistic chance of winning and headlining WrestleMania? Far from it. But the company can invest some time and faith into Rusev by having him be one of the longest-running participants in the match.

Have him enter early in the match, perhaps in the first five competitors. Sure, he may come close to elimination on a couple of occasions, with partner Aiden English saving him more than once, but he is only eliminated when the latter stages of the match near.

Perhaps then Rusev's momentum won't be completely lost. Right now, it's hanging in the balance.

The Miz

Even though he has just won the Intercontinental Championship, WWE has to make its fans believes that The Miz is a capable contender for this weekend's Royal Rumble.

As Ryan Dilbert pointed out this week in his 10-Count, The Awesome One's record in the marquee bout is mixed. He is either quickly eliminated or lasts a marathon distance. WWE has to ensure it is the latter this Sunday.

No longer is The Miz a midcarder with attitude. He is one of the greatest holders of the Intercontinental Championship in history, and he is now a serious threat to everyone above him on the card. That includes whichever man holds the Universal Championship after this weekend.

In having him win back the title which he has become synonymous with in recent years, WWE signaled its belief in The Miz. That belief could increase exponentially if he does the unthinkable this weekend. But even if he doesn't, a lengthy stay in the Rumble is a guarantee.

Finn Balor

It's time for WWE to break away from the norm and have a new face win the Royal Rumble.

A repeat of recent years and a victory for the likes of Triple H, Randy Orton or Batista will not cut it. This truly is the New Era for WWE, and in that regard, it has to trust one of its brightest talents to win the match and headline WrestleMania.

And of all the stars who deserve a lengthy run in the match, if not a chance of winning it, Finn Balor is near the top. Balor is yet to receive his mandatory rematch for the Universal Championship after he forfeited it due to injury. Perhaps WWE thought its fans would forget.

But they haven't.

An interesting alliance with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson takes Balor's character down an exciting avenue. Having The Good Brothers tear through the tag division while Balor makes a beeline for the Universal Championship would light up Raw's early-year booking.

Balor can carry the company for the next few months. A solid run in this weekend's Royal Rumble match is the start of that.